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McCain wants to join panel with sway over State Dept.

Sen. John McCain has made no secret of his concerns about U.N. ambassador Susan Rice possibly getting a promotion in the second Obama term. Now, he's apparently angling for a spot on the committee that could

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Sen. John McCain has made no secret of his concerns about United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice possibly getting a promotion in the second Obama term. Now, he's angling for a spot on the committee that will play a decisive role in who gets the State Department job.

NBC News reports McCain, an Arizona Republican, reportedly wants a spot on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings on whomever President Obama appoints to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Clinton has said she wants to leave the grueling job.)

McCain has criticized Rice for her initial comments after four Americans were killed in September at the U.S. Consulate in Libya. The senator has repeatedly indicated he may oppose Rice, saying she should have known her comments about the deadly attacks in Benghazi were false. Rice had said, based on intelligence at the time, that the violence was sparked by a protest over an anti-Islam video.

McCain told Foreign Policy magazine's blog, The Cable, that he will join the Foreign Relations panel when the 113th Congress convenes next year. His spokesman, Brian Rogers, told NBC News that "no final decisions on committee assignments have been made."

McCain told the Foreign Policy blog that he also has concerns with the way Rice has handled issues in Africa while U.N. ambassador.